CD Review
William Clarke
Now That You’re Gone
(Watch Dog Records,©2002 #CDWD1006)
by Putnay Thomas
Review date: July 2005
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"Keeping the Blues Alive Award" Achievement for Blues on the Internet Presented by The Blues Foundation
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This CD is also entitled 1951-1996. The songs are tracks that William had “in the can” before he died. Clarke’s widow Jeannette states, in the liner notes, that he had planned to release these tunes only days before he died. Thankfully Jeannette followed through and released this music for all of us to hear. Although the liner notes do tell this story, I had hoped for a few more details about who played on which songs.
For those who weren’t familiar with William Clarke, in his short 45 years he made a name for himself as a blues harmonica virtuoso and hard-working stage persona. He won three W.C. Handy awards and put out ten well-crafted blues albums.
Now That You’re Gone has 12 songs totaling 41 plus minutes worth of solid, west coast blues. I don’t know if there was more recorded than these 12 tunes, but they’re all gems. Interestingly enough Clarke shares the harmonica spotlight on 4 of the 12 tracks. One of his mentors George Harmonica Smith, blows on 2 tracks. Mitch Kashmar and Joe Lodovici play harp on 2 other songs. There are some stellar musicians in the mix including guitarists Hollywood Fats, Ronnie Earl, and Jr. Watson.
Since there are not credits given anywhere as far as the songwriting goes, one has to assume that William Clarke wrote all of the songs on Now That You’re Gone. This is not hard to believe as he performed very few covers on his previous CD’s. He does a song called Let’s Celebrate Life. The song is only 1:34, but in that very short time span he says and plays it all. It may very well be the best 1:34 second ever made. His harmonica playing on dominates the sound of the songs but he really blow the top off of it on the song She’s Dynamite. Curiously enough, these songs sound as good as his later highly- produced work with the Alligator recordings of the 90’s. Another standout tune is Find A New Place To Live. On the song he sings about how his money isn’t worth anything. A refrain heard often in the blues, but William keeps it fresh, musically and lyrically.
Jeannette said that William didn’t ever want to be forgotten. No problem, once you hear Now That You’re Gone, he can rest assured.
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